Summer

There are two versions of me.  For most of the year, I keep to a fairly strict schedule.  I do my hair and makeup.  I even dress well.  You know, making an effort to look like a professional, grown up, well put together person.  That version of me gets up to an alarm every morning, works hard all day, and falls into bed at night exhausted, but pleased with the many things that were accomplished during the day.

The other version of me only exists during the summer months.  June, July, and most of August.  For nearly 12 weeks each year, I transform into someone else.

In the summer, there are no alarm clocks.  I will get up early if I feel like it, but most of the time, I sleep in.  Before I go any farther, I feel I need to throw in a caveat...  This is where I am in my life now.  This has been a long time coming, however.  For many years, my sleep patterns and schedules were dictated by the needs of my children.  I know I have friends and family who automatically roll their eyes when I say I sleep in as late as I want to.  You who are still in the young children phase are saying, "yeah, right!  As if my children would LET me sleep in!"

I hear you.  I have been there.  Done that.  And I am here now telling you that there is an end in sight!  There will come a day when your children no longer jolt you awake at 6 a.m. (or earlier) by pouncing on you and asking, "what's for breakfast?"  In fact, someday, your children will grumble if you dare to try and wake them before noon.

So.  Back to summer!

Most summers I do have a loose resolution list.  Things I hope to accomplish.  One summer I stripped the paint and stain off several of the old doors in this house and re-stained, varnished, and hung them.  (There are still more to do.)  Another summer I sanded and painted the outside window trim and painted the exterior doors red.  (Again, still more to do.)  You get the picture.  This year is no exception.  However, this summer, my resolution list is all about me.  Get in shape.  Train for a triathlon.  That's it...  So, other than my workout(s) for the day, I have no other ambitions or goals.

Nope.

None.  Nada.  Zip.

I wear a lot of exercise clothes.  And swim suits.  And just lounge around clothes.  I don't care if they match or even look attractive on me.  I wear makeup about once a week, if that.  More often than not, my hair is piled up on my head and clamped down with a great big claw clip, or yanked back in a pony tail.  Half the time it is wet from the pool, the lake, or the shower.  My summer time perfume is a combo of chlorine and sunscreen.  My skin is darkening despite the 50 SPF I wear daily.  My hair is bleaching out.

And I am very happy.

As I said, I have no definite schedules.  I have the time to soak in all the sights, sounds, and smells of summer.

I love the sound of lawn mowers and sprinklers.  The sound of a little league game at the nearby park.  Children's laughter drifting through the neighborhood.  The sound of a train whistle in the distance on a summer evening.  I love to listen to the crickets at night.

I love the smell of fresh cut grass, chlorine from the pool, and fresh summer rain on hot pavement.

I love going to the lake and watching my son windsurf, or lounging at the pool with my daughter and catching up on all her news.  I love sitting in my back yard and watching the dragonflies dance.  I love falling into a trance as I watch the birch wood slowly burn to glowing embers in the fire pit.  I love pondering a midnight blue sky full of stars while a gentle summer breeze caresses me.

I love that I can spend an entire afternoon buried in a book and not feel the least bit guilty about it.

No cares.  No worries.

Or, at least, all cares and worries put on hold.  Time seems to stand still for just a little bit and the days run together into a blaze of sunshine and glory.  Just for a little while, I feel young again.

And that is a very good thing.